Open Course Option
The Open Course option allows students to earn credits by taking free, open, online courses from the Saylor Academy that are aligned with the University’s prior learning assessment program. Credits earned via the Open Course option can be applied to most undergraduate degree programs at Thomas Edison State University, including the entire Associate in Science in Business Administration degree.
The option enables students to take open courses at no cost and then apply what they learned in those open courses by successfully completing a portfolio assessment or the University’s credit-by-exam program, TECEP®. Some credits can also be earned by passing a College-Level Exam Program (CLEP) exam or Saylor's NCCRS exams, which have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS).
The Open Course option is self-paced, so students can complete courses and assessments on their own schedule, independent from monthly semesters and deadlines.
In addition to the entire Associate in Science in Business Administration degree, students can use this option to earn credits that satisfy general education elective or free elective requirements for most undergraduate degree programs at the University. The Open Course option also provides a great opportunity for students who may have some background knowledge on a particular topic but not enough to complete a prior learning assessment on their own. With the Open Course option, students can brush up on the sections they need, then take the assessment.
| TESU Course Requirements | Saylor Open Course | Assessment for Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ENC-1010 English Composition I | ENGL001 English Composition I | TECEP: ENC-1010 |
| ENC-1020 English Composition II | ENGL002 English Composition II | TECEP: ENC-1020 |
| MAT-1210 College Algebra | MA001 College Algebra | TECEP: MAT-121, NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| STA-2010 Introduction to Statistics | MA121 Introduction to Statistics | TECEP: STA-2010 or Ace Credit |
| ECO-1110 Macroeconomics | ECON102 Macroeconomics | Portfolio, CLEP or Ace Credit |
| ECO-1120 Microeconomics | ECON101 Microeconomics | TECEP: ECO-1120, Portfolio, CLEP or Ace Credit |
| POS-1010 Introduction to Political Science | POLSC101 Introduction to Political Science | TECEP: POS-1010 |
| POS-2820 Introduction to Comparative Politics | POLSC221 Introduction to Comparative Politics | TECEP: POS-2820 or Ace Credit |
| PHI-2860 Contemporary Ethics | PHIL103 Moral/Political Philosophy | Portfolio |
| ECO-4910 International Economics | ECON307 International Trade | Portfolio |
| HIS-1260 World History from 1600-present | HIST103 World History in Modern Era | TECEP: HIS-1260 |
| ACC-1010 Principles of Financial Accounting | BUS103 Introduction to Financial Accounting | TECEP: ACC-1010 or Ace Credit |
| ACC-1020 Principles of Managerial Accounting | BUS105 Managerial Accounting | TECEP: ACC-1020 |
| LAW-2010 Business Law | BUS205 Business Law and Ethics | Portfolio, CLEP, NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| MAN-3010 Principles of Management | BUS208 Principles of Management | Portfolio, NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| MAR-3010 Principles of Marketing | BUS203 Principles of Marketing | Portfolio, NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| COS-1010 Introduction to Computers/CIS | CS101 Introduction to Computer Science I | Portfolio, NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| OPM-3510 Business Statistics | BUS204 Business Statistics | NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| MAN-4320 Small Business Management | BUS305 Small Business Management | Portfolio |
| MAN-4350 Project Management | BUS402 Project Management | Portfolio |
| COM-2020 Intro to Business Communications | BUS210 Corporate Communications | Portfolio, NCCRS or Ace Credit |
| CMP-3540 Network Technology | CS402 Computer Communications and Networks | TECEP: CMP-3540 |
| NEG-4010 Negotiations and Conflict Management | BUS403 Business Negotiations and Conflict Management | TECEP: NEG-4010 |
| ETH-2100 Environmental Ethics | ENVS203 Environmental Ethics, Justice, and World Views | TECEP: ETH-2100 or Ace Credit |
| ENG-2010 Technical Writing | ENG-210 Technical Writing | TECEP: ENG-2010 |